Mold forces 29 residents to relocate from Kansas nursing home

PITTSBURG, Kan. — The Department of Health and Human Services has released information about an environmental concern at a southeast Kansas nursing home.

In late July, DHHS conducted an environmental inspection of Medicalodges Pittsburg on South Rouse Street.

During that tour, officials said a pervasive musty odor was present in all four building hallways.

Multiple rooms were also found to have an organic black, white, yellow, or green substance on the walls, floors, and ceilings.

In one room, a black substance identified as mold, was found in multiple areas.

As a result, 29 residents were relocated to Medicalodges Frontenac the next day, to remove them from the immediate harm.

Today (8/5), we reached out today to the company's regional vice president, Travis McBride for comment and/or an update, but have not yet heard back.

Some current and former staff accuse Medicalodges, Inc. of not doing enough when the problem was first discovered. That’s outlined in the DHSS Statement of Deficiencies and Plan of Corrections, below:

“The facility identified a census of 29 residents and 12 residents with impaired respiratory function. The sample included seven residents. Based on observation, interview, and record review the facility failed to take immediate actions to safely relocate residents from contaminated areas and failed to decontaminate facility areas populated by residents and used by residents, staff, and visitors after identification of potentially pathogenic organic material (mold) in residents’ rooms, common areas, bathing areas, the kitchen, and other areas of the facility.”